4 Bangin, Fuel Sippin, Full Tank Challenge!

Thanks, Rich! I have lots of plans for it, all in the build ha the To Do List is quite long . . .

Rich is correct (imagine that) just slightly faded stock color.

I'll be painting over the chrome, though, eventually.

 

Nice shade of gray nonetheless.

 

I have always run the cheap brands of 87 octane gas (Safeway, ARCO, etc) and a couple months ago I noticed my fuel mileage dropped about 10% with the winter blend, as usual. Just for giggles, I decided to fill up with Chevron brand 87 octane, which is about $0.20 per gallon more than the cheap stuff. I did not change anything in my driving route or habits, and noticed a 5% increase in fuel mileage with the Chevron gas. It also ran a little "happier" if you will -- smoother running, better throttle response, better acceleration, which was definitely better but *only very slightly better*. While this is not enough to financially justify the extra cost, it is interesting to note. I will also note that even using the same cheap gas brands all the time, the fuel mileage would vary a few percent every fill-up. But I still think the name-brand gas just burns a little better.

And forgive me if this belongs in another thread... since I'm running a 4-banger and constantly monitor my fuel economy at each fill-up based on mileage tracking, this seemed to be a good place to post.

 

Name brand fuels (major refiners/distributors) are better for your vehicle and fuel economy. You pay less at the local minimarts...but you get what you pay for. Most of these convenience store gas stations use higher ethanol blended fuels which net lower MPGs.

The tradeoff on FE to save a little might be imaginary, but folks see what they spend and fewer do the math to confirm that they end up ahead. The numbers you report indicate a rough wash: MPGs up proportionate to increased price of fuel. So if your vehicle runs cleaner, smoother acceleration, and fewer longer term problems with the truck, then the ancillary benefits of paying a little extra up front might land you ahead when it comes time to fuel up again and offset repair costs.

 

If you can live with the 22r power wise I wouldn't look to a 2.7 for FE. I have had many 4x4's with either engine and the 22r gets better mileage. The 99 tacoma that I recently sold averaged about 18 and was set up similar to your truck. My 2012 reg cab gets about 20 or 21. every 22r rig that I have had got 20 mpg+. Most of these guys with great FE are 5 luggers. The 4x really kills the numbers.

 

Your 2012 reg cab weighs a lot more than mine but I'm not looking for an engine. I only have 86,xxx on mine

 

nice rig BTW

 

Did a fillup yesterday. 323 miles-14.4 gallons = 22.5 MPG
All but 80 miles was 3.5 mile trips back and forth to work with lots of stop and go. The 80 miles was a urban interstate trip at 65 MPH or so. Be glad when temps warm up and winter blend is over wtih.

 

18mpg today (highway), before that was 15mpg (some trail riding,and alot of short town trips)

Just changed diffs/tcase to synthetic added new plugs wires what can I do to help (140k)

The 15mpg were before synthetic anad plugs/wires

 

I'm thinking of going out to Moab with some PA/NJ guys.

Would be a fun MPG adventure with all different kinds of things I could measure.

 

Like clockwork, another 5 weeks pass and it's time to fuel up.

529.1 miles on 18.318 gallons for 28.9 mpg.

I'm more excited about $39.91 for the fill at $2.179 after the $1.20 Safeway discount.

 

Nice tank, winter blend will be gone soon. Then you will really humble us.

 

Not many posts here lately?

Just filled up 552 miles with 19.002 gallons for 29.0 mpg.

$3.399 minus $0.70 Safeway discount or $2.699.

 

I hate you 5 luggers. I did notice that if I get on the hiway for about an hour and keep it around 60, I can get 24-25 MPG.

 

Must be nice to go two oil changes on a tank of gas.

 

D'oh! Edited!

 

Will do my part to keep this thread alive, although not proud of my results.

218.3 miles - 11.48 gallons = 19.0 MPG

Except for one 24 mile highway trip, it was all 3.5 miles trips back an forth to work. Filled up early so I would not lose my fuel saver rewards from my grocery store. I had 74¢ in fuel saver rewards + 9¢ in savings using my credit card rewards. Net price of $2.66. Next tank will be better as I have some highway miles on it.

 

I'm seeing a bump in MPGs of late. Getting 100+ on a quarter tank now but I am doing about 40% highway driving. Still, I hadn't seen over 100 miles for a few months, so nice to get back into a better realm.

 

Huge improvement on FE this trip. Drove the Sub instead of the Pickup

 

I bought a 2010 access cab lowboy in December. I drive a lot for work, and have already put a little over 10,000 miles on it.

I had a Scangauge II on my FJ Cruiser, and liked it. So I tried an Ultragauge on this Taco, and it's never within 1 1/2 gallons on the amount of fuel used, and I tried calibrating it every time. I finally pulled it off and forgot about it. I liked the Scangauge MUCH better.

Anyway, I've been keeping records and mileage has ranged from a low of 22.4 (70-75mph into a strong headwind) to 27.1 (70-75 with a strong tailwind). Both of those are rare, I am almost always getting 24.5-25.0. Up in Arkansas I can get pure gasoline and it does a little better on that. Last week I put 483 miles on one tank of gas, I think that is my high.